Residents, businesses, and essential services in Kano are bracing for a prolonged blackout as electricity workers at the Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO) have launched an indefinite strike, threatening to disrupt power supply across the city and its franchise areas.
The industrial action, declared by the Senior Staff Association of Electricity and Allied Companies (SSAEAC) and the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE), stems from years of unresolved grievances that workers say management has repeatedly failed to address despite multiple negotiations and ultimatums.
The strike began on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, following the expiration of a midnight deadline issued to KEDCO management the previous day.
Workers barricaded the company’s headquarters in Kano, picketed entrances, and withdrew services, resulting in immediate power outages across Kano metropolis and parts of its franchise areas, including Jigawa and Katsina states.
Addressing journalists during the picketing at KEDCO’s headquarters, a senior union official described the strike as “a breaking point for workers who have waited patiently for commitments to be honoured.”
Key demands include the remittance of outstanding pension deductions, some spanning up to 92 months, the payment of death benefits, improved staff welfare, provision of basic working tools and personal protective equipment (PPE), and the fair implementation of performance appraisals and promotions.
The unions also alleged bias in recent promotion exercises, claiming many employees have stagnated for years while opportunities were granted selectively.
“You cannot motivate workers when opportunities are perceived as biased,” one union representative said.
However, KEDCO management has pushed back against the accusations, asserting that significant strides have been made under the current leadership to prioritise employee welfare.
In a statement from its corporate communications unit, the company noted that a structured welfare programme has been introduced to address legacy issues, with a substantial portion of 2025 pension remittances already settled and plans to clear remaining obligations.
Management further defended the recent promotion process as transparent and policy-compliant, resulting in the advancement of over a thousand eligible staff.
“KEDCO acknowledges the concerns raised by the unions, many of which predate the current administration,” the statement read, confirming that discussions with labour leaders and stakeholders are ongoing to restore stability.
The Guild reports that as negotiations continue amid the shutdown, residents and business owners in the affected areas are enduring mounting disruptions, hoping for a quick resolution to prevent deeper economic hardship.
